‘Mississippi Masala’: Exploring Post-Colonialism, ‘Indophobia’, and South Asian Anti-Blackness
Set against the backdrop of the 1972 Indian expulsion from Idi Amin’s Uganda, this arthouse film remains important in examining themes around post-colonialism, xenophobia, colorism, and anti-blackness within the South Asian community.
Recently stumbling upon this film, I joked to my good friend that we ought to watch it simply based on its title alone. We have a corny sense of humor, and a movie titled ‘Mississippi Masala’ would provide no shortage of laughter from what was sure to be a cheesy plot about the relationship between a Black guy and an Indian girl living in the American South. The movie ended up being quite good in a serious way — despite maintaining an overall lighthearted vibe, it introduces racial dynamics never explored in either Hollywood or Bollywood: South Asians’ relationship with Africans and African-Americans. Director Mira Nair’s showcasing of complex themes against the backdrop of the 1972 Asian expulsion from Uganda makes her unique film worth revisiting.
‘Indophobia’ in Uganda — An unintended consequence of…erm, ‘Integrate and Conquer’?
The movie starts in Kampala, Uganda in 1972, and President Idi Amin has just issued a decree stating Asians are to be expelled from the country. For context, most Asian…
